Author's Note: I would usually only state this once, but it's too much fun trying to come up with witty ways to make sure you know I don't own characters. This ficlet in particular has to deal with Remmy J. Lupin. He belongs to JK Rowling, but I still expect him gift wrapped for my birthday.
Memoirs of a Werewolf
Monday, October 1983
October gave the true essence of autumn. September seemed to be only but a short pathway from summer to fall. Yet there was a small interval break this afternoon from the usually chilly English autumnal days. The sun innocently peeked out from behind the clouds before overpowering and driving them away slowly. Happy to be in the spotlight now, the cheerful-looking bright sun spread its warm rays below, stretching as much as it could over bustling London. It was just another day of work and errands to most city-goers, whether they were Witches and Wizards or Muggles.
But one such Wizard hadn't any such work or errands to fulfill. One Remus Lupin trudged over a long London sidewalk, alone among the groups of people walking past, ranging from busy adults to children chattering up a storm as they walked across the city streets. He took a deep breath as he walked slowly. It wasn't the cleanest air ever, but it was much better than his stuffy home. The sun shone down upon his pallid face and features; his graying dusky brown hair and his tired grey eyes. His long, old, brown overcoat ruffled with every long slow stride he took, accompanied by a cane in his right hand, tapping the pavement beneath him with each step to support his weaker weight. He had to delay his job quest for a couple days because of the Full moon. Ah yes, the moon. The blasted thing never gave him a moment's peace. He had found a job for himself half a year or so ago, writing and researching for Wizarding textbooks, mainly for students. But, alas, he couldn't lie about the Illnesses or Problems category on his resume anymore. He couldn't leave it blank with a Not Available anymore. With trying to find a job, beginning things with the Order, and his lycanthropy, things were becoming tough for him.
Remus slowed to a stop for a moment, glancing sideways at an opening on the walkway grass, where there was a small park. Thinking it would be nice to have a walk, he entered the square silently, slipping his pale free hand into his coat pocket absentmindedly. He watched as kids tottered around playing games, young couples walking hand in hand down the path, and the elderly sitting and watching the others, looking almost envious, you could say. Though, Remus himself didn't look any different than the jealous watching of the elders; he wished he could run around like the children, know somebody dear like the couples, and have peace like the elderly. They all had something he wished to have himself.
The sun had taken a break behind a patch of hazy grey clouds as the werewolf came upon a wooden bench nearby, secluded by a small area of surrounding trees. Stretching his legs out, he set his rustic-looking cane upon his lap and leaned back against the dry reverse of his seat. Yellow, brown, and red leaves had begun to fall from their places on the branches of the trees like every autumn. A patch of dry leaves that were now at the mercy of the wind rustled around on the ground near Remus, swirling this way and that near his feet. Except the quietly droned sound of cars on the streets nearby, the spurts of giggles coming from the frolicking children in the rest of the park, and the rustling of the wind through the trees, it was serenely calm.
Soon, he found himself almost drifting off to sleep where he sat, his heavy-feeling eyelids drooping lightly. The sudden ruffling of feathers near woke him out of his half-stupor, and he turned his head sideways to see a bird perched on the railing arm rest beside him. It was a small blackbird, with glisteningly straight-preened feathers. The bird observed him with a few head tilts and blinks of its oddly colored large brown eyes. She, unlike most other birds round the park, stayed settled beside him, peering up at him once in awhile as if expecting the man to offer her a seat hospitably. Remus's eyes flickered from ahead to the bird for a couple moments, which folded her wings behind her and seemed to be glancing over in the direction Remus had as well, trying to see what was so amazing about the view.
"Eh...hullo. Nice morning, hm?" He muttered lightly. The blackbird craned her head to look at him and ruffled her feathers. It was odd how her movements personified a behavior like she was actually listening to him.
"It'd be far better if I didn't have to deal with that moon. Wouldn't have to use this blasted thing..." Remus continued, motioning to his cane. "I have to mark down every moon cycle...make sure I'm not doing anything that evening...make sure I'm not around people.." A sigh escaped from his pale lips.
Before he knew it, he snatched up his pocket watch, popping it open with a finger upon the dial and hopping upwards from the amount of time he had spent this morning at the park; far more than he would have liked to. Grasping onto his cane, he rose to his feet and looked back down at the blackbird.
"I can't believe I spent my morning talking to a bird..." He mused aloud with a shake of his head. He must have been really pathetic. The bird, however, squawked once as if in resentment of such a statement, hopping up to the back of the bench and blinking at him a few times before fluttering away. Leaning on his wooden cane after a brief pause, he strode away from the small park.